Technical and environmental efficiency of hog production in China—A stochastic frontier production function analysis

This article analyses the technical and environmental efficiency of hog production in China using data from the China Agricultural Product Cost-Benefit Compilation（NDRC 2005–2013） and the First National Census of Pollution： Manual of Discharge Coefficient of Livestock and Poultry Industry（IEDA and NIES 2009）. The empirical results show a great variation in environmental efficiency, ranging from 0.344 to 0.973 with a mean value of 0.672 that declines over time. Southwest China is found to be the most environmentally efficient region, while the Northeast and the Northwest are the least efficient. Another finding is that technical and environmental efficiencies are highly correlated in hog production; the most environmentally efficient regions are usually found to have high technical efficiency, and vice versa. In addition, we computed the output elasticities with respect to each factor input. The results show that feed is the most efficient input, with an output elasticity of approximately 0.551, which is much higher than the elasticity of the nitrogen surplus, other capital or labour. The output elasticity with respect to the nitrogen surplus is 0.287 on average. Finally, the scale elasticity in hog production is slightly higher than 1.

Synergies and trade-offs of climate-smart agriculture(CSA)practices selected by smallholder farmers in Geshy watershed,Southwest Ethiopia

Studies on mainstreaming climate-smart agriculture(CSA)practices can increase smallholder farmers’capacity and awareness to improve food security and establish sustainable livelihoods through resilient agricultural systems,while achieving adaptation and mitigation benefits.Hence,valuable insights can be obtained from smallholder farmers in responding to present and forthcoming challenges of climate change impacts.However,there is little research work on trade-off and synergy assessments.Taking Geshy watershed in Southwest Ethiopia as a case study area,both quantitative and qualitative data analysis were undertaken in this study.The data were collected from 15 key informant interviews,6 focus group discussions,and 384 households to answer the following questions:(1)what are the top 5 preferred CSA practices for smallholder farmers in Geshy watershed when coping with the impacts of climate change?(2)What is the performance of the preferred CSA practices?And(3)which trade-offs and synergies are experienced upon the implementation of CSA practices?The study came up with the most preferred CSA practices such as the use of improved crop varieties,small-scale irrigation,improved animal husbandry,the use of efficient inorganic fertilizers,and crop rotation with legumes.The selected CSA practices showed that the productivity goal exhibit the best synergy,while the mitigation goal has trade-offs.The study also indicated that the use of improved crop varieties causes high synergies in all 3 goals of CSA practices;small-scale irrigation provides a medium synergy on productivity goal but high synergy for adaptation and mitigation goals;improved animal husbandry shows a high synergy with the adaptation goal,a relatively lower synergy with the productivity goal,and a trade-off with the mitigation goal;the use of efficient inorganic fertilizers shows maximum synergy for the productivity and adaptation goals;and crop rotation with legumes exhibits high synergy with the productivity and mitigation goals but a relatively lower synergy with the adaptation goal.These results can provide evidence to various stakeholder farmers in the value chain that the impacts of climate change can be addressed by the adoption of CSA practices.In general,CSA practices are considered indispensable.Smallholder farmers prefer CSA practices that help to increase crop productivity and household resilience to climate change impacts.The results generate a vital foundation for recommendations to smallholder farming decision-makers.It also sensitizes actions for innovative and sustainable methods that are able to upscale the preferred CSA practices in the agricultural system in Geshy watershed of Southwest Ethiopia and other regions.

Exploring the unique biophysical characteristics and ecosystem services of mountains: A review

Mountains are unique terrestrial ecosystems characterized by distinct physiography,biological diversity,and socio-economic features.These ecosystems provide numerous essential goods and services to communities within and beyond the mountains.Despite their significance,comprehensive studies that thoroughly characterize the ecosystem services of mountains are lacking.Such research is crucial to advance scientific understanding of mountain characteristics and ecosystem services.This study investigates mountain regions’unique characteristics and ecosystem services using global datasets such as the U.S.Geological Survey(USGS),the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment(GMBA),NASA EARTHDATA,and other relevant databases and literature review.The focus was to explore unique physiographic and socio-economic characteristics and ecosystem services provided by mountains.The results indicate that mountain ecosystems are pivotal in offering provisional,regulatory,and supporting ecosystem services on Earth.Despite their limited geographical area,these ecosystems supply substantial amounts of freshwater to communities living within and downstream of mountainous regions.Additionally,mountain ecosystems serve as global biodiversity hotspots,harboring a significant proportion of the world's species.However,mountain ecosystems face numerous natural and anthropogenic challenges,including climate change,habitat destruction,and resource overexploitation.Current efforts towards sustainable mountain development are inadequate.Enhanced scientific research and targeted policy measures are essential to address these challenges,protect mountain biodiversity,and ensure the continuous provision of vital ecosystem services.

What Determines China's Grain Imports and Self-sufficiency? The Role of Rising Domestic Costs and Varying World Market Prices

China s grain sectors have faced unprecedented challenges in recent years as the ever-increasing and historically high level of grain output has failed to reduce grain imports. On the contrary, high grain imports and high domestic stock have accompanied historically high domestic output, a situation dubbed the "triple high" phenomenon in current policy discussion. This paper explores the role of widening domestic-world market price gaps in determining the triple high phenomenon.Unlike earlier studies that relied on production capacities, this paper argues that domestic production and demand (hence imports) are functions of domestic and world market prices and proposes an analytical framework to explicitly capture such price gaps under restricted trade linkages in general equilibrium. Following this approach, a set of price scenarios for the 2011-2020 period are constructed and simulated in a computable general equilibrium model. Results from the core scenarios, in which recent domestic and world market price trends are assumed to continue, suggest that further widening price gaps would substantially increase grain imports and reduce domestic output (by 60 million tons) and self-sufficiency ratios from base levels. In the alternative scenarios with larger (smaller) price gaps, we find higher (lower) imports and larger (smaller) decreases in domestic output and self-sufficiency ratios. Such results provide important policy implications as China's agricultural policy undergoes significant adjustment.